Card display packaging



Feb. 8, 1966 K. D. BIXLER CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 14, 1964 INVENTOR KENNETH D. BIXLER BY IFHRL CU'HOCHS ATTORNEY Feb.8, 1966 K. D. BIXLER CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May14, 1964 INVENTOR KENNETH D. BIXLER KHRL CU- HOG/(5 ATTORNEY Feb. 8,1966 K. D. BIXLER CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING 9 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed May 14,1964 ZNVENTOR KENNETH D. BIXLER Ham a). TL OcHs ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1966 K.D. BIXLER 3,233,725

CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING Filed May 14, 1964 INVENTOR KENNETH D. BIXLERHQRL Q). Hoe/(5 ATTORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet 4'. I

Feb. 8, 1966 K. D. BIXLER CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledMay 14, 1964 INVENTOR KENNETH D. BIXLER Hem cu. Hoe/es ATTORNEY Feb. 8,1966 K. D. BIXLER 3,233,725

CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING Filed May 14, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENT ORKENNETH D. BIXLER Hem a) HOCHS W ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1966 K. D. BIXLER3,233,725

. CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING Filed May 14, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORKENNETH D. BIXLER BY Ham 0). HOG/ s ATTORNEY Feb. 8,1966 K. D. BIXLER3,233,725

CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING Filed May 14, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORKENNETH D. BIXLER BY KARL Q). Hoe/(s ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1966 K. D. BIXLER3,233,725

CARD DISPLAY PACKAGING Filed May 14, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. 38

INVENTOR KENNETH D. BIXLER BY l lq'RL CQHOCKS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,233,725 CARD DISP AY PAQKAGENG Kenneth D. Bixler, Huntington,N.Y., assignor to Diarnond international Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of Delaware Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,435 13 Claims.(61. 20645.1l4)

The present invention relates to a card display package and method ofpackaging, and more particularly to the packaging of an article fordisplay utilizing transparent heat shrinkable film and anchoring suchfilm to a stiff supporting sheet with the article to be packagedtherebetween.

Several modes of packaging for display, wherein an article isincapsulated between a backing layer or board and a transparentthermoplastic sheet, are known in the art. Thus the blister packagecomprises a preformed plastic bubble which is mechanically oradh'esively attached to a paperboard backing sheet and in which theproducts are maintained within the bubble. Blister packages, however,require a relatively expensive preforming operation and in addition areformed of relatively thick plastic.

Another modern card display package comprises a backing sheet having ahole therein and a plastic film which is stretchable and shrinkablebeing adhesively united to the backing sheet. In this form of package,the plastic is formed into a bubble by stretching the plastic throughthe hole in the card after which the article to be packaged is insertedthrough the hole and the plastic is shrunk to conform to the shape ofthe article. In such operations a flap is either glued to the back toseal the hole or the article placed through the hole has one dimensionlarger than the hole which prevents the article escaping back throughthe hole. The packaging procedure, although less expensive than theblister package, still suffers from the disadvantage that it requiresexpensive equipment for stretching the plastic film into a bag. Thepackage and procedure also suitor from the difficulty of requiring theuse of adhesives to cause the plastic film to stick to the backingsheet.

The third method of card display packaging presently in general useinvolves placing an adhesive coating on a porous board, placing thearticle to be packaged on the board, placing a thin, transparent plasticfilm over the article and the board, and lastly drawing vacuum throughthe board while applying heat to cause the board to adhere to theplastic. This last procedure suffers from the difficulty ofnecessitating the use of adhesives, requires the use of vacuum drawingequipment, and forms a package which is not entirely satisfactory forall display purposes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved package and method of packaging for display which has theadvantages of the prior art but which obviates all the disadvantages,such as indicated above.

It is another object of the present invention to eliminate the necessityof utilizing adhesives in providing a card display package.

It is another object of the present invention to eliminate the necessityof utilizing expensive equipment, such as vacuum drawing or plasticstretching equipment, in providing a card display package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved card display package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method ofcard display packaging which is simple and inexpensive and yet producesa highly satisfactory package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card displaypackage that is simple to construct and utilizes inexpensive materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card displaypackage which has a high degree of product appeal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card displaypackage wherein the product is covered with a transparent plastic filmwhich closely conforms to i the product and attaches the product to a.stiff backing board.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an economicalcard display package which gives a maximum product display.

These and other objects and the nature and advantages of the presentinvention Will be apparent from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a backing board utilized inthe present invention;

FIGS. 28 are perspective views showing the packaging procedure appliedto the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment;

FIGS. 1012 are perspective views showing another package embodimentduring packaging;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another packaging feature of anembodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a section taken alongline 14-14 of FIG.- 13;

FIG. '15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 1618 are perspective views showing yet another package embodimentand the method of packaging;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of yet another embodiment;

FIGS. 21-24 are perspective views of another embodiment;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are perspective views showing yet another embodiment;

FIGS. 27-3O are perspective views showing another package embodiment andthe method of assembly;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view taken along line 31-31 of FIG. 30;

FIGS. 32-34 are perspective views showing still another embodiment andits method of assembly; 7

FIGS. 35-37 are perspective views showing another embodiment and itsmethod of assembly; and

FIG. 38 is a sectional view taken along line 38'38 of FIG. 37.

The packages in accordance with the present invention utilize atransparent plastic film which is heat shrunk about the packaged articleand mounted on a backingor supporting board having a trap-door cuttherein. The trap-door is opened towards the back of the board, theplastic film is forced through the trap-door hole with the article toform a bag or tube at the front of the backing board with the articletherein. The closed trap door exerts a pinching action on the marginaledges of the plastic film which stick through to the back of the board.If the marginal edges are sufiiciently long to overlap, they areheat-sealed around the trap doors. If, on the other hand, the marginaledges are short, they may be merely heat-shrunk so as to tightly adhereto the trap door by forming a cap it'herearound and, in addition, tothicken the marginal edges so that they cannot be pulled. through thepinch caused by the closed trap-door.

FIG. 1 shows an essentially flat backing or supporting board 10. Thissupporting board It) is preferably formed of paperboard although it maybe formed of any suitable material such as plastic. In the final articlethe supporting board serves as a rigidifying means upon which thepackaged article and the plastic film are anchored. As is conventional,the supporting board 10 may preferably have suitable advertising indiciaprinted thereon.

The supporting board 10 has therein two trap-doors 12 and 14 which maybe formed in any manner, but which are preferably die cut into thesupporting board. Thus, the trap-doors 12 and 14 are defined by the diecuts 16, 17 and 18. The die cuts 16 and 18 define the side edges 36 ofthe trap-doors and the edges 38 of the board forming the trap-dooropening. The die cut 17 defines the facing edges of the trap-doors 12and 14. The trap-doors 12 and 14 are hinged to the board 10 by thefolding score lines 20 and 22, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the trap-doors 12 and 14 can be opened to the backof the supporting board 10 by applying pressure to the front thereof toprovide a trap-door opening 24. The trapdoors 12 and 14 and thetrap-door opening 24 can be made larger than the overall product size,if desired, or the trap-doors and the opening 24 may be varied in sizeand shape to reflect the product contour, as long as the hingedtrap-doors are retained.

In FIG. 3 the trap-doors 12 and 14 are fully opened to the back of theboard 11) and a flexible, transparent, heat shrinkable plastic film 26is placed thereon preparatory for packaging. It is preferred, but notessential, that the trap doors 12 and 14 then be returned to thevertical position, forming the film 26 into a U-shaped trough as shownin FIG. 4. The product 28 is then placed into the U-channel of the film26 and/or over the trap-door opening 24 in the backing board 10. Thetrap-doors 12 and 14 are then swung shut, trapping the article 28 withina tubular plastic bag 30 at the front of the board 10 (note FIGS. 14 and15). Simultaneously therewith the marginal edges 32 and 34 of theplastic film 26 (in the shape of a plastic tube 30) are pinched betweenthe side edges 36 of the trap doors 12 and 14 and the edges 38 of theboard defining the trap door opening 24, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the trap-doors 12 and 14 close as shown in FIG. 6, the product mustbe displaced in a forward direction. This can either be accomplished bya mechanical push on the product just before the doors swing in, or theinward motion of the doors may be used to push the article and filmthrough the opening 24 into place. Also, a mechanical means of somesort, such as a pusher element, may also be utilized to force theplastic film 26 through the hole 24 prior to the placement of thearticle 28 above the hole 24. Closing the doors to push the articlethrough the opening 24 is preferred.

The marginal edges 32 and 34 of the plastic film 26 are then folded overas shown in FIG. 7 and heat sealed together in a well known manner, suchas by utilizing a hot bar. This securely anchors the now tubularlyshaped film 30 about the trap doors 12 and 14. v The film 2630 is notadhered to the board 10 or the trap-doors 12 and 14 by any adhesivemeans, but instead is frictionally and mechanically engaged to the board10 by being wrapped around the trap-doors 12 and 14. After packaging,heat may be applied to the package to effect shrinkage of the tube 30tightly around the product 28 and around the trap-doors 12 and 14,thereby providing a neat and attractive package and further tightlylocking the package elements together.

The application of heat to effect shrinkage, shown in FIG. 8, may beaccomplished in a conventional manner, such as by blowing hot air on thepackage from the heaters 41), or by utilizing a radiant heat source.Since the trap-doors 12 and 14, around which the film is shrunk, arepreferably the approximate size and shape of the product 28, anydistortion or warpage produced by the films shrink energy will beconfined to the trap-doors and will not act on the board 10 itself toaffect the appearance of the display package.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is essentially the same as that shown inFIGS. 18, but utilizes in addition an extension 10' of the supportingboard 10 which is secured to the back of the board 10 through adhesive42 subsequent to packaging in accordance with the procedure of FIGS.1-8. The fold-over portion 10 is often desirable when furtheradvertising or display surface is desired. While the board 10' is shownas an extension of the support board 10 and is hinged thereto atfold-line 44 as shown in FIG. 9, such a board 10 may be separate,, ifdesired.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the trap doors 112 and 114 are die cutfrom the supporting board 10 in a man-- ner so that the hinges 120 and122 are considerably shorter than the overall length of the doors andthe facing edge 117 of the doors. This provides curved die cuts 116 and118 having longitudinal extensions 116 and 118', respectively, whichform the curved trap-door side edges 136 and the complementary boardhole edges 138.

The initial steps of the packaging procedure are the same here as thatof the previous embodiments; thus, an article is placed within aU-shaped section formed of the plastic film sitting above the trap-dooropening and the trap-doors 112 and 114 are swung closed, thereby formingthe film into a tube within which the article is trapped. the terminaledges 132 and 134 of the plastic tube extending through the pinchbetween the edges 183 of the board 10 and the edges 136 of thetrap-doors 112 and 114 through to the back of the board 10, the articleand plastic tube being forced to the front of the board and trap-doors.In this embodiment, however, the marginal edges 132 and 134 of theplastic tube are somewhat shorter than in the previous embodiments and,as shown in FIG. 11, need only be shrunk, rather than heat-sealed by theapplication of hot air from the heaters 40, thereby causing the marginaledges 132 and 134 to shrink around: the curved contoured edges 136 ofthe trap-doors to form caps 132 and 134' about the edges 136 which willhold-- the package together.

In this embodiment it is not necessary to adhere the marginal edges 132and 134 to each other or to the card. Thus the variation in the die cutoutline of the trap-doors in FIG. 10 is to accommodate shrink film caps132 and 134 over the end portions of the trap door shape. In the packageof FIG. 12, the article is held within a tube formed by the plastic filmand the film is maintained on the card 10 by the formation of heatshrunk caps 132 and 134' about both ends 136 of the trap-doors whichtightly grips the trap-doors, by pinching action between the edges 136of the trap-doors and the internal edges 13% of the board 10, and alsoby the increased thickness, due to heat shrinkage, of the edges 132 and134.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment somewhat similar to that of FIGS. 10-12except that the marginal edges of the plastic film are pinched not onlybetween the side edges 236 of the trap-doors and the edges 238 of theboard 11), but also between the facing edges 217 of the trap-doors 212and the 214. This embodiment has an advantage in that it may utilize aplastic film of smaller size than that in other embodiments. After thetrap doors 212 and 214 have been closed in accordance with the packagingprocedure, the marginal edges 233 of the film project through and arepinched between the facing; edges 217 of the trap-doors and the marginaledges 232. and 234 project through and are pinched by the side edges;236 of the trap-doors and the hole forming edges 2381 of the board 111while the article 28 is securely maintained at the front of the board111 within the tubular plastic: bag 30. The application of heat to suchmarginal edges: 232, 233 and 234 of the film projecting through to the.back of the board 10 and the trap-doors 212 and 214.. causes such edgesto shrink and thicken, thereby providing thick marginal edges 232, 233"and 234' as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. These thickened marginal edges234', 233, and 232' prevent the tubular plastic bag 30 and the article28 packaged therein from being pulled through the pinch.

FIGS. 16-18 show an embodiment having four trap doors 312, 314, 313 and315. In this embodiment, the trap doors 312 and 314 open in the samemanner as those of the previous embodiments by swinging to the back ofthe card 11). The side trap-doors 213 and 215, on the other hand, swingin the opposite direction to the front side of the card 10. FIG. 17shows the packaging pro" cedure similar to that of the precedingembodiments, and the terminal edges 32 and 34 of the plastic film 26 areheat-sealed together around the back of the closed trapdoors 312 and 314as in FIG. 7. In the meantime, the trap-doors 313 and 315 at the frontof the board 19 are maintained in opened position by the force of thearticle 28 within the tubular plastic film 30. The frontwardly extendingtrap-doors 313 and 315 thereby provide shielding edges to protect thearticle and package from being crushed after the plastic film has beenshrunk.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show another embodiment in which the trap-door structureis modified to provide a protective well or recess for'the packagedarticle below the front surface of the board Thus, trap doors 412 and414 are provided which have the same general shape as the trap-doors inFIG. 1. These trap-doors differ, however, in the provision of two hingedfold lines 420, 422 and 421, 423 which define the primary trap-doorportions 412 and 414 and the secondary trap-door portions 413 and 415.During packaging the trap-doors are opened to the back of the board 10about the hinges 420 and 422 and the. article is packaged within theplasticfilm 26 as previously described. Howevenwhen closing thetrap-doors, such. trap-doors 412 and. 414 are-closed about the hinges421 and 423, respectively. The secondarytrap-door portions 413 and 415of each trap-toor are thereby maintained in a direction substantiallynormal to the plane of the board 10.

After heat sealing the. marginal edges 32 and 34 of the plastic film,the article is maintained in a recessed position so that only part ofthe article projects forward beyond the front surface of the board 10and the remainder of the article projects backwardly through the card 10and into the protectivewell or recess provided by the trap doors. 414and 412; It will be noted that due to the secondary trap-door portions415 and 413 which serve to provide the protective recess, a spaceremains between the facing edges 417 of the trap-doors after closurethereof.

The embodiment of FIGS. 21-24 shows a board 1d having four trap-doors512, 513, 514 and 515 cut therein and providing fold line hinges 520,521, 522 and 523 about the entire trap-door opening so that there are noboard edges forming the trap-door opening 24. As shown in FIGS. 22 and23, the packaging procedure followed is similar to that previouslydescribed except that a smaller piece of plastic film 526 may beutilized. All four trap.- doors are folded to the back of the board 10and the plastic film 526 is placed over the opening 24. To form theU-channel, only the trap-deors 514 and 512 are moved to the verticalposition. After the article 28 is trapped within the plastic tube andall four trap doors are closed, the marginal edges of the plastic film526 are pinched solely between the facing edges 517 and 517 of thetrap.- doors and project through to the back of the trap-doors in amannerfsimilar to that shown in FIG. 13. The marginal edges of the film526 are then heat-sealed to form flattened and sealed marginal portions432;, 533 and 534". These marginal portions, together with the pinchingaction, prevents the article and film from being pulled through thetrapadqors,

In the device of FIGS. 25 and 26, the trap-doors 512 and 614 areprovided so that the side edges 636 of the trap-doors do notfrictionally contact the inner edges 635 of the board forming theopening 24. Thus, when the trap-doors 612 and 614 are closed, as shownin FIG. 25, holes 24 and 24" are provided between the side edges 636 ofthe trap-doors and the inner edges 638 of the board. Consequently, afterthe packaging procedure, the plastic tube will extend from the front ofthe board 10 to the back thereof behind the closed trap-doors 612 and614 through the openings 24 and 24", as shown in FIG. 26, and hence nopinching action will be provided. The plastic tube and the articlecontained therein will be secured to the trap-doors 612 and 614 and theboard 11} solely by the heat-seal joining the marginal edges 32 and 34of the tubular plastic film.

The embodiment of FIGS. 27-31 is particularly adapted for use as acounter top display. Since the film 26 is not adhered to the card 7161itself, portions of such card can be bent about fold lines to give astanding easel. Thus the board 71% is formed from a blank having agenerally rectangular shape and having long sides 759 and 752 and shortsides 754 and 756. About a third of the way along the long edge 752, anoutwardly projecting tab portion 755 is provided having a friction tip758. A fold line 76% is provided entirely across the width of the blankat the middle thereof, separating the blank into the facing board 711)and the backing board 710'. Two trap-doors 712 and 714 are provided inapproximately the middle of the rectangular blank with their one commonedge 716 being superimposed on the middle fold line 760 and their othercommon edge 718 being displaced towards the end 754 of the blank, sothat the trap-doors are at the edge of the facing board 710. On theopposite side of the fold line 760 and forming a space equal in size tothe trap-door opening 724 provided by the trap-doors 712 and 714, isanother hole 724' of a size preferably identical with that of theopening 724. A diagonal fold line 762 is provided from about the middleof the edge 752 to the edge 756 approximately a fourth to a third of thedistance across edge from edge 752 to edge 750. A triangular hingedsection 764 is defined by the fold line 762, the edge 756, and the edge752, which hinged section 764 contains a slot 7% passing therethroughadapted to mate with the friction tip 753.

As shown in FIG. 28, the article 28 to be packaged may be equal in sizeto the combined holes 724 and 724'. The article 28 is packaged in amanner similar to that previously discussed. As the marginal edges 732and 734 of the plastic tube 30 are overlapped and heat sealed together,the trap-doors 714 and 712 lying thereunder cover only part of the backof the article 28. The blank is then folded along the fold line 760 andthe facing and backing boards 710 and 714] are secured together withadhesive 742'. The tab 753 is then bent about its fold line 771) and thetip 558' is forced through the slot 766 as shown in 6 FIG. 31 with thetriangular section 764 bent about fold line 762 to form a stand.

The embodiment of FIGS. 32-34 also shows a counter top display package.A rectangular blank is provided having three fold lines 844, 8611 and862 extending completely across the width of the blank defining theblank into a facing board 810, a backing board 81%, a base S58 and abase support 864. Trapdoors 812. and 814 are provided inthe facing board810 adjacent the fold line 844, the center of the rectangular card lyingsomewhere between the fold lines 844 and 361). The article 23 ispackaged in the manner set forth above, and the backing board 816',which hasan adhesive coating 8 42 thereon, is folded over and adhered tothe back of the facing board 810 in a manner similar to that carried outin the embodiment of FIG. 9,

In place of a relatively wide plastic film which is first formed into aU-shaped channel and then into a tubular plastic bag to hold thearticle, a relatively narrow film 92% may be utilized, which film isequal to the width of. the trap door opening 24. A film of such a widthmay be used in any of the preceding embodiments, but for purposes ofillustration the film 926 is shown in FIGS. 35-38 utilizing a backingboard 10 provided with the trap-doors 12 and 14 according to theembodiment of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 36, the trap-doors 12 and 14, opened to the back of thesupporting board 10, do not shape the narrow film 926 into a U-shapedchannel as in the previous embodiments. When the product 28 is placed onthe film 926 and the trap-doors 12 and 14 are closed, the product ismaintained at the front of the board and trapdoors, not in a tubular bagas in the previous embodiments but in a hammock-like bag 930. Dependingon the shape of the product and the exact relative widths of thetrap-doors and fiilm, the sides 28' of the product may be only partiallycovered by the bag 930.

The marginal edges 932 and 934 of the plastic film may be heat-treatedin any of the manners indicated above and for purposes of illustrationare shown in FIG. 38 to be overlapped and heat-sealed together about thetrapdoors 12 and 14. After the film has been heat-shrunk, the film willwrap over the edges of the product 28 to hold it tightly in place on thecard. This embodiment has the advantage of using less plastic film, butin certain cases the product is not as Well protected or as tightlysecured on the card as when a wider film is used and traps the articlewithin a tubular bag.

The display packages of the present invention are economical and givemaximum product display. In addition, the packaging requires noexpensive machinery and utilizes only minimal amounts of plastic filmand paperboard support sheet. The maximum surface configuration of thearticles packaged are displayed and yet are tightly adhered to thesupport board so as to resist pilferage. Support boards of various sizescan be used to vary the background display for the product. Thetrap-door openings can reflect the exact product size which is easilyvaried by changing the shape and size of the die cut, or a trap-door canbe of a general size and shape to let one die cut board accommodate aline of several products.

The method of forming and packaging is well adapted for continuousin-line manufacture and this can effect further savings by increasingthe speed of the packaging machines.

The product appeal is very high since the appearance of the package isgood. This is due to the fact that the film is not adhered to the carditself but only to the extension of the card, i.e. the trap-doors. Thusthe card itself is not subject to warpage or distortion from shrinktension of the plastic film. In addition, there is no unsightly die cuthole in the display card to give the package a poor appearance. Sincethe die cut trap-doors are returned behind the article, the backgroundappearance behind the article in those cases where it is visible isgenerally uniform.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention and thereforethe invention is not intended to be limited to what is shown in thedrawings and described in the specification but only as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display package comprising a stitf supporting board having atrap-door providing an opening therethrough, said trap-door having twoside edges and a front edge and being hinged along an edge of saidopening to the remainder of said board at the back edge of saidtrap-door, a film of transparent plastic extending through saidtrap-door opening and forming a plastic bag at the front side of saidboard and trap-door, the marginal edges of said film extending throughsaid closed trap-door along its side edges, said marginal edges of saidplastic film at the back of said trap-door being heat-treated in theabsence of adhesive to reshape and anchor said film only to saidtrap-door to prevent being pulled through said closed trap-door, and anarticle packaged within said plastic bag.

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said marginal edgespassing through said closed trapdoor from the front to the back of saidboard and trapdoors are pinched between the side edges of said trap 8door and the edges of the board forming said trap-door opening.

3. A package in accordance with claim 1 comprising at least two facingtrap-doors defining a single trap-door opening, each of said trap-doorshaving two side edges and a front edge, wherein said marginal edgespassing through said closed trap-doors from the front to the back ofsaid board and trap-doors are pinched between the facing edges of saidtrap-doors.

4. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat-treatedmarginal edges of said plastic film overlap behind said trap-door andare heat-sealed to each other.

5. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat-treated edgesof said plastic film comprise heat thickened portions.

6. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat-treatedmarginal edges overlap and grasp the edge of said trap door and areheat-shrunk about said trap-door edge.

7. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said board has anopening cut through adacjent said trapdoor and said plastic film partlypasses through said opening without being pinched by said trap-doors.

8. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plastic bag istubular.

9. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said board has a bentsection providing a display stand.

10. A package in accordance with claim 9 wherein said supporting boardis formed from a blank having a generally rectangular shape, a firstfold line at the middle of said blank defining said supporting board onone side and a backing board on the other side, a tab projecting fromthe bottom edge of said supporting board and having a friction tipthereon, said trap-door being adjacent the center of said blank, saidfirst fold line being along the edge of said trap-door, an opening insaid backing board approximately the same size as said trap-door lyingadjacent said trap-door beyond said first fold line, a diagonal foldline in said backing board running from about the end of said first foldline to the opposite edge of said backing board farthest from said firstfold line to form a triangular section, and a slot for said friction tipin said triangular section.

11. A package in accordance with claim 9 wherein said supporting boardis formed from a blank having a generally rectangular shape, a firstfold line across said blank defining said supporting board and a base, asecond fold line across said blank defining said base and a basesupport, a third fold line across said blank defining said base supportand a backing board, said trap-door lying adjacent said first fold line,and a connection binding the back surface of said supporting board tothe front surface of said backing board. A

12. A package in accordance with claim 1 comprising at least two facingtrap doors, each of said trap doors having two side edges and a frontedge wherein said trap doors contact one another along their facingfront edges.

13. A display package comprising a stiff supporting board having atrap-door coplanar therewith, said trap door providing an openingtherethrough and being hinged along an edge of said opening to theremainder of said board, said board defining an extension of saidopening therethrough on either side of said trap-door, a film oftransparent plastic extending through said extensions at the sides ofsaid trap-door forming a tubular plastic bag at the front side of saidboard and trap-door, the marginal edges of said film being sealedtogether behind said trapdoor, and an article packaged within saidtubular plastic bag, said extensions being of substantially greater sizethan the thickness of said film.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Horwath 248-152 Tanner 206-80 Gittens 206-79 McCarty206-4533 Zastrow 206-78 1 0 3,046,711 7/ 1962 Harrison 206-65 3,061,09110/1962 Wichman 206-78 3,076,542 2/ 1963 Lowry et a1 206-78 3,116,15412/1963 Rumsey 206-4531 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

W. T. DHSON, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DISPLAY PACKAGE COMPRISING A STIFF SUPPORTING BOARD HAVING ATRAP-DOOR PROVIDING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, SAID TRAP-DOOR HAVING TWOSIDE EDGES AND A FRONT EDGE AND BEING HINGED ALONG AN EDGE OF SAIDOPENING TO THE REMAINDER OF SAID BOARD AT THE BACK EDGE OF SAIDTRAP-DOOR, A FILM OF TRANSPARANT PLASTIC EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDTRAP-DOOR OPENING AND FORMING A PLASTIC BAG AT THE FRONT SIDE OF SAIDBOARD AND TRAP-DOOR, THE MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID FILM EXTENDING THROUGHSAID CLOSED TRAP-DOOR ALONG ITS SIDE EDGES, SAID MARGINAL EDGES OF SAIDPLASTIC FILM AT THE BACK OF SAID TRAP-DOOR BEING HEAT-TREATED IN THEABSENCE OF ADHESIVE TO RESHAPE AND ANCHOR SAID FILM ONLY TO SAIDTRAP-DOOR TO PREVENT BEING PULLED THOUGH SAID CLOSED TRAP-DOOR, AND ANARTICLE PACKAGED WITHIN SAID PLASTIC BAG.